How We Make Money — Transparently
We publish our revenue model because we believe you deserve to know before you use the platform. No hidden fees. No surprises. No student charges — ever.
What We Do
Study Abroad Network helps students — starting with Bangladesh → Canada — discover, compare, and apply to Canadian Master's programs. We match students with programs and connect them with vetted partner agents who handle the application process. The platform is free for students. Our income comes from the institutional and agent side of the market.
How We Make Money
We have three revenue streams. All three are disclosed here in full.
Stream 1 — Affiliate Commissions
Signing partners now (target: Month 1–3)When a student chooses a third-party service we recommend — travel insurance, accommodation, test prep courses — we earn a referral commission from the service provider.
Stream 2 — Sub-Agent Referral Fees
Signing now — target: August 2026We are signing a partner agent in the Bangladesh → Canada corridor (target: August 2026). When that agreement is in place, we will receive a referral fee from the master agent when a student we've matched connects with them and enrolls. The fee comes from the master agent — never from the student.
Stream 3 — University Placement Fees (CPS)
In development (target: Months 15–24)When a student we've matched enrolls at a partner university, the university pays us a cost-per-success placement fee. This is a standard industry model — universities pay recruiting agents for verified enrollments. We earn only if the student actually enrolls: our incentive is aligned with your outcome.
Why This Is Honest
Most platforms that claim to be "free for students" obscure how they make money. They bury it in fine print or don't disclose it at all. We think that's wrong. If your data or your enrollment is generating revenue for us, you should know it before you sign up.
Our model — affiliate commissions, sub-agent fees, university placement fees — is the same model used by thousands of international education recruiters worldwide. The difference is we say it out loud, on a public page, with the specific categories named.
We do not receive undisclosed payments. We do not rank programs based on who pays us more. We do not share your data without your consent. The only time your contact information goes to an agent or university is when you click "Connect me with an agent" — and even then, you see exactly who we're introducing you to.
What This Means for You
| Feature | For Students | For Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Program matching | Free, always | — |
| Agent connection | Free — we earn from the agent | Referral fee on enrollment |
| University enrollment | Free — we earn from the university | Placement fee on enrollment (CPS) |
| Third-party services | Same price as going direct | We earn a referral commission |
| Your data | Never sold. Shared only with your consent | Received only on student-initiated connection |
| Program ranking | Based on your profile — not on who pays us | Cannot pay for higher placement |
Revenue at a Glance
| Stream | Who pays us | When | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliate commissions | Service provider (insurance, accommodation, test prep) | When student uses a recommended service | Signing partners now |
| Sub-agent referral fees | Master agent (not the student) | When student enrolls through our partner agent | Signing now — target: August 2026 |
| University placement fees (CPS) | Partner university (not the student) | When student enrolls at partner institution | In development |
Commission rates and placement fees are negotiated individually and subject to confidentiality clauses. We disclose the category, not the specific amount.
In One Sentence
Students use our platform free. We earn from the institutions and agents who benefit when a student enrolls — with the student's knowledge and consent at every step.